The Americas Flashcards
How did the Spanish establish a trade monopoly?
The Spanish has already colonised most of South America and the Caribbean and any merchant wanted to trade in the Caribbean would have to register their cargo in Seville. This means the Spanish authority could take a portion of the goods.
Why did England turn to privateering?
Easier method of getting money- raiding Spanish ships for gold and other resources
Difference between a pirate and a privateer?
Privateers were backed by the monarch and allowed to steal from other ships as long as they shared it with the monarch
Pirates stole for themselves
Push factors of going to the Americas?
Religious factors/disputes
Poverty
Overpopulation
Pull factors of going to the Americas?
Lots of land
Opportunity and profit
Lots of resources
Purpose of Jamestown (1607)
See if the land was fit to grow crops
Find gold if possible
Hardships of early Jamestown settlers?
Had to rely on friendly tribes to find food- many killed by them
Disease
Successes of early settlers in Jamestown?
Managed to establish friendly relations with tribes
High profits from tobacco
Impact on Britain and the Natives from the Massachusetts colony?
Impact on Britain- mass migration
Impact on Natives- got guns by trading, many died from disease brought by English
Successes of Massachusetts colony?
Set up religious colony, offshore fishing, laws and democracy
Managed to create good relations with the natives
Purpose of the Massachusetts Colony?
Puritans- escaping persecution
Reliant on Natives- gave them food for winter (Thanksgiving)
Social Effects of Slave Trade on Britain?
Some people felt slavery was wrong- campaign to have the slave trade abolished
Population moved to large cities due to success of slaving ports
Coffee, tea and sugar became a large part of the British diet
Provided a huge number of jobs
Inventions financed by slavery- steam engine
Economic Effects of Slave Trade on Britain?
Slave traders supported by investors
Up until the 1800s it was not illegal to make money from slave trading because it was so widespread
West coast towns grew into large cities as they benefited from the trade
Made Britain one of the richest and most powerful nations
Led to racist attitudes
What were indentured servants?
Indentured servants were poor people from England who went to the Americas to work. They worked on a plantation for a set amount of time and then bought their freedom.
How Britain was defeated in the American War for Independence?
Time and distance- long time to ship troops and supplies. Supplies often cut off by Americas allies
Geography- America has a huge landmass, and was difficult to get enough troops to keep ahold of the country
Allies- Other countries that hated Britain supplied the colonies
Tactics- the colonies did not use traditional fighting methods
